Adedayo Akinwumi a civil engineer and community development enthusiast hails from Ijurin-Ekiti, he bares his mind on issues of development as Ekiti marks 24th anniversary of its creation. Excerpts:
Ekiti State on October 1st celebrated it's creation, would you say the visions of the founding fathers have been met?
Far from it, the founding fathers felt we were being marginalized in the old Ondo State which kick-started the agitation for the creation of the state.
The state was denied take-off grant by the federal government which made real development at the initial stage to be very difficult.
The aims of our founding fathers are far from being met due to the fact that successive governments in the state are working at cross purposes. No synergy in their approach to governance.
What are the things you think should be the concern of successive governments if the state should be on the track for progressive developments?
To the best of my knowledge in which I may be wrong, I don't think there is a blueprint or development plan on which we need to benchmark performances of our government in the areas of; Health, Education, Sport, Entertainment/ Tourism, Industrialization etc.
We have lost ground in the area of education, Ekiti being the Fountain of knowledge has lost steam. We don't have people to take over from the likes of: Ojo Igbole, Olubumo, Williams, Aluko, Ayodele Omotoso and the likes.
In the area of commerce, non indigenes have taken over our commerce. Ekiti people like Omolayo, Arowolo, Fakehinde, Hope and Faith were in charge of our economy but today, this has been eroded. Our people prefer riding Okada than to learn trade or being involved in artisanship.
In the area of agriculture, we have lost it completely. Ebira, Igede, Benue are the one doing farming business. Our northern brothers are the one supplying us vegetables and the likes. We have lost our farming culture, lost species of our yams that we are noted for as a result of neglect by successive governments in the state, what a shame!
What am expecting from governments is to make provision for development plan that will cater for the new set of Ekiti people we are breeding today.
The mindsets of the new Ekiti man is now different from the one of old. Ekiti used to be an agrarian environment. Agriculture used to be our industry but the kind of education we are acquiring is changing that all together.
The so called army of graduates are seeking for white collar jobs, a lot of them are just looking for money by all means by getting involved in Okada business, yahoo yahoo and the rest.
Successive governments should create environment where there will be no dropout. They should assemble people of knowledge in various fields and fashion out development plan for the state. This development plan should be presented to the state assembly for legislation so that it would become act of parliament. This will afford successive governments to follow through this development plan.
We should focus more on these sectors;
1. Education
2. Technology
3. Industrialization
4. Entertainment/Tourism
5. Sport
If we are able to develop these sectors, unemployment will reduced greatly in the state.
We can create our own Bangalore here in Ekiti where technology will be our focus. Most of our youths are savvy when it comes to technology. We need to create a technology village for them where they can create apps and others. This can be achieved in Ekiti. I discussed with CEO of Salesbury in Lagos recently on this, he is also an indigene of Ekiti, we realized that it is achievable with support from appropriate quarters.
Our government are just paying lip service to agribusiness. There is no workable template to achieve this. We have a lot of moribund agricultural settlements in the state. I invested on rice plantation at Igede farm settlement some years back but no support from government, we had the biggest rice farm during the period.
Sport and Entertainment/Tourism are another critical sectors we should look at If these sectors are well explored, unemployment, vices will be reduced greatly in the state. We have a lots of shining example of Ekiti extraction we can get involved. In the area of sport, Ekiti is really lagging behind. How many of our people are representing this nation like Kayode Oluyemi did? Where is the Principal' s cup, what of the Governor's cup? What about school inter house sports? We need to rejigg these activities in order to bring life back to our sleepy schools.
Our schools don't have school farms again. Children now sees Agriculture as sector for nonchalant people. This should be corrected.
Also, I want Ekiti to bring back inspectorate scheme in those days. The Olubewo of those days really did wonders. People like Dr Tae Lawal, Mr Adaran made their names as School inspectors. They brought sanity to schools unlike what we have today. Ekiti being the Fountain of knowledge should do things differently. Gone are the days when students should belong to different voluntary clubs like; Pen Club, Farmers Club, Jets Club, Boys Scout, Girls guild, Jaycee, Literary and debating club etc. No wonder why we are loosing culture of - Being your brother's keeper is becoming things of the past.
We have many things to showcase the world in the area of tourism. 10% of Ikogosi potential is yet to be explored. Ikogosi supposed to be a family tourist center. It goes beyond touching warm spring and cold water. We supposed to have adult and children section in the place. We need to put in place those things that will captivate the children in the place. Zoo, game center, cinema galleria, fountain, fireworks cracker and many more should be made available at Ikogosi warm spring. Also, we should add 18holes golf course for the adult, we supposed to have sport center in the place where indoor and outdoor games will be made available. This will make Ikogosi a TOTAL FAMILY PACKAGED TOURIST CENTER.
There is no reason why we should have dropout in Ekiti state. The exceptional brilliant students should be sent to secondary schools. The average one should be encouraged to proceed to Technical schools in order for them to achieve their full potential.
Those that are below average should be made to combine their education with Agric business on farm settlements. All these classes of people should be given adequate supports in order for them to reach pinnacle of their chosen careers. We all need ourselves.
Industrialization: we should follow Awo footsteps in this. There is no point sending children to schools only for them to be roaming the streets after graduation. Awolowo forsaw this in the 50s when he introduced free education which was why he created Apapa, Ilupeju, Ikeja, Olubadan, Oluyole industrial estates. It is quite disheartening we don't have thinkers in government any longer.
As a stakeholder in the construction industry, how would you want to advise if the government should embark on a huge construction site in its efforts at development?
The state should produce master plan for all the local government headquarters. The rate at which construction is competing with agriculture is quite frightening. Construction is good but we also need to feed this teeming population.
I will urge government to get involved in building more estates for their workers. Most of the houses being built in the state are not up to standard. People are just doing what they like, no control in this sector at all.
I will suggest that Ado being an administrative headquarters should have well planed estates why Ikere, Ijero especially the forest reserved between Aramoko and Ijero and Ikole should be our industrial hub, Technology village and Entertainment/Sport village respectively.
Silicon valley, Bangalore in India, Wuhan in China are typical examples. We should have this plan because I believe it is achievable. Fountain of knowledge should not be mere slogan.
What expectations do you have for Ekiti in the in a decade especially as it affects your profession?
I wish government should collaborate with people in the building industry like; Nigeria Society of Engineers, Nigeria Institute of Architects, NIOB, NIS, Estate Surveyors, Urban Planners etc to develop a 10 years development plan that can be benched mark for planning. Deliberate funding system should be put in place to achieve these goals. Standard Organization of Nigeria should be involved for quality control and assurance.
The respective faculties in our universities and polytechnics should also be coopted.
Ekiti should be a model to others in terms of development since we are fountain of knowledge.
Knowledge is power to create wealth. Our government should engage our best to development the state regardless of party affiliation.
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